Leaders across Europe express relief mixed with concern about the French election result
Leaders across Europe have reacted with relief mixed with concern to the result of the French legislative election
BERLIN — Leaders across Europe reacted with relief but also some concern to the result of the French legislative election, which leaves a key European Union country facing the prospect of a hung parliament and political paralysis.
Relief, because the far-right National Rally didn't come out as the strongest party, as many pro-European leaders had feared — but also concern because no political grouping has a majority in the National Assembly.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, which together with France has long been viewed as the engine of European integration, said it would have been a major challenge if French President Emmanuel Macron would have had to work with a right-wing populist party, German news agency dpa reported.
“That has now been averted," the chancellor said.
Scholz expressed hope that Macron and the newly elected members of parliament would succeed in forming a stable government.
“In any case, I am also pleased with regard to the important Franco-German friendship, and I can personally say that I am also pleased with regard to the good personal relationship that I have with the French president,” Scholz said.
“Germany has an interest in the success of the European Union like no other country," the German chancellor said. “This is only possible together with France."
After the first round of the French election last month, in which the National Rally had gained the most votes, Scholz had spoken publicly of his worry that a second-round victory for the nationalist party could affect French-German relations.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a former European Council president, sounded
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